My dad's 01 Ranger 4X4 XLT has some wierd electrical problems. All of a sudden (about 2 weeks ago) the wipers, widows, fog & dome lights, and 4x4 stopped working. I checked all the fuses and made sure the wireing as in tact and everything is clean and fuses are good. I removed the fuse panel and verified all the wires are connected. I even took the wiper connector off the wiper motor off and verified continuity between the 4 or 5 terminals and the battery terminals.

Is there a main relay(s) that could have crapped out? Or what else could be the culprit? Again, all fuses are good (tested every one with multimeter) and in place. Maybe some type of power surge cooked the wiper, window, dome, 4x4 and fog light switches without killing the fuses??? Is this possible? Everything else works, dash, radio, alarm, hi-lo beams, blinkers, locks, etc.

Thanks!

 

One thing it could be is the GEM module. I seriously doubt that a surge would take out all that stuff without blowing a fuse. Has your dad jump started anybody lately? The GEM module, along with the PCM are sensitive to damage from voltage spikes. Before replacing the GEM module, I would try resetting it. You can do this my disconnecting your negative battery cable,
and touching it to the positive battery cable (negative battery cable is off the negative battery terminal). This will remove power from the GEM module,
and discharge the internal filter capacitors......

 

I'd maybe suspect the GEM module, located on the firewall behind the radio, or the GEM's fuse.

 

Dang Bob, your quick on the draw!!!! lol Second time in the last two days I've posted on top of ya!!!

Anyway Matt, look at that sometimes pesky GEM & let us know what you find.

 

No problem at all pawpaw!!! I'm sure there will be times I'll post on top of you!!

 

Thanks guys! I'll will try to stop by my dads house today and take a look at it.

 

Just called my dad and had him do the test you specified Bob. It didn't change anything. So I should buy another GEM module for him right? Any thoughts on what else it could be just in case the GEM module isn't the problem.

Also, I've never heard of a GEM module and in case the auto parts guy doesn't know what it is either - that does GEM stand for?

Thanks

 

GEM = General Electronics Module, to learn more about it's claim to fame, try this post by Ken00 in the "Misc" section of the "Tech Info" thread located atop this forums front page. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...69&postcount=7

OOPS on edit: continued GEM system control info, from the same thread, by Ken00 https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...70&postcount=8

 

just a thought have you checked all your grounds? If you get the GEM and that doesn't fix the problem i'd check the ground.

 

Well, you all were right - it was the GEM. Unfortunately, it was the stealership that found it out. They charged my dad $800 for diagnosise and repair. My dad needed the truck and could wait for me to take a look at it and do the repair myself so he took it to the shop on his way to work. He is sorely kicking himself right now. Oh, his truck is back to new again. Thanks anyways.

 

Dang matt, thats WAY out of line for diagnosis & replacement of the GEM!!!!.

Get your dads reciept & see how many hours they charged to the job. no way should the cost be any where near that imo.

Price a new GEM module, seem to me I've seen prices around $120 & find out what time is allowed for it's installation & their labor rate. Seems to me, something around maybe $200 bucks for the job. would be plenty.

Bet if properly confronted, they'll cut the charges at least in half!!!! If you do it for him, let us know how it goes.

Good to hear it's back to normal though, too bad he was so quick on the draw!!!!

Sounds like my MIL, when she makes up her mind on something, she's gotta have it done NOW!!!!! lol

 

I'm not going to do anything about it. He lives too far away and the stealership he brought it to is even farther.

He already confronted them but they said they needed to charge him a full day's worth of labor claiming that a problem like this takes a whole day of diagnosis. PLUS to add to their BS, they charged him for the labor of 2 guys which they claimed is even higher priced. I have never heard of such stupidity. This is the #1 reason why I fix my own vehicles and never take it to any repair shop. Tires and air conditioning are the only thing handled by a shop.

 

This is quite ridiculous and I think warrants a letter to the regional service management and a formal complaint about the dealer's practice. They have guidelines / standards on service labor to perform various activities and certainly it does not require 16 mhrs. Maybe someone has access to the data that states the expected labor for this task.